Introduction

This laboratory activity was performed to develop an understanding of electric

fields and electric potential. The purpose of this experiment was to use a

voltmeter to locate equipotential lines and determine the association between

equipotentials and electric fields. Using the equipotential lines that were found,

the electric field lines can be determined.

Theory

All charged objects have an electric field that radiates from the object.

However, electric fields are never measured directly. Instead, another property,

called the electric potential difference (voltage), is measured. For this

procedure, the voltage was measured between one positive charge and one

negative charge. Measuring the voltage between two charges is how to find

equipotential lines, which are lines where the voltage remains the same.

Equipotential lines then provide the path of the electric field lines since they are

perpendicular to one another. Using the distance between each equipotential

line and the positively charged plate, the value of the electric field can be

V
determined by dividing the voltage by the distance ( E= d ).
Material

● Corkboard

● Conductive mat

● Equipotential lines mapping worksheet

● Digital voltmeter

● Power supply

● Two push pins

Procedure

For setting up the apparatus of the conductors, the first step was to place a

conductive mat on a corkboard. Then, two push pins were placed in the center

of the conducting regions, one in each. To connect the power supply to the

conductors, banana cables with alligator clamps on one end were used. The first

cable was plugged into the positive input on the power supply. The alligator

clamp on the other end of the cable was then connected to the pushpin in the

center of the positive conducting region. The second cable was then connected

to the negative input on the power supply. Similar to the first cable, the other

end was connected to the remaining push pin in the negative conducting region.

The conductors were connected to the power supply, and the voltmeter was

connected to the conductors.

Turn on the power supply and set the voltage to 20V. Touch the negative

probe to the electrode of low potential. Touching the other probe of the meter to

the paper, locate five points with the approximately same voltage, forming an

equipotential line. Mark the points with a pencil on the provided equipotentials

lines mapping worksheet. Plotlines on other whole numbers on either side of

your first equipotential line. Also, plot the equipotential lines close to but not

touching the metallic electrodes on all sides. Label all the lines with their

voltages. Make enough measurements to determine the complete equipotential

pattern. Make at least 5 different equipotential lines.

Data

d=15 cm=0.15 m

V t heory =20 V

V experiment =19.90 V
Questions

1. What can you say about the angle at which field lines cross equipotential

lines? What about the angle at which field lines start out from the

electrodes?

- Electric field lines cross equipotentials at 90 degrees since they are

perpendicular to one another or the angle that field lines start out or

end at the surface from the electrodes is 90.

2. Did you observe two field or equipotential lines crossing each other? Is

this possible according to the theory? Explain.

- Equipotential lines at different potentials can never cross either.

This is because they are, by definition, a line of constant potential.

The equipotential at a given point in space can only have a single

value. If lines for two different values of the potential were to

cross, then they would no longer represent equipotential lines.

3. What kind of line (field or equipotential) runs along, or "hugs", the

boundary of a conductor (electrode)? What kind of line comes out

perpendicular to a conductor?

- Equipotential lines run along the boundary of a conductor. Electric

field lines come out perpendicular to a conductor.

4. What, approximately, is the strength of the electric field midway between

the two conductors?

The strength of the electric field midway between the two conductors:

ΔV 19.90V V
E= = =132.67
d 0.15 m m

5. How much work is required to push an electron from one electrode to the

other?

W =qΔV =(1.6 × 10−19 C )( 19.90V )=3.184 × 10−18 J

Conclusion

The main purpose of this experiment was to have an understanding of the

relationship between electric fields and equipotential lines. The fundamental

physical laws were illustrated by the experiment were work is needed to move a

charge from one equipotential line to another, and equipotential lines are

perpendicular to electric field lines. In the experiment, the work done on one

electron being moved from one side to another was 3.184 ×10−18 J , and the

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strength of the electric field midway between the two conductors is 132.67 m .

The source of the experimental error could be a static force created on the

conductive paper by rubbing with the cork, by accidentally touching the

corkboard, or by the paper not being sufficiently conductive.